Apparently, many years ago, I gave a tape of BOTBS to my nephew. We are probably talking over 20 years ago, mind you, as I have not lived in the UK since 1983. Not having a tape player anymore, he had not listened to it for years. Well, this Xmas, while browsing Amazon, he came across the album, put it on his Xmas list, and Lo! And Behold! His DW purchased it for him.

Or could it be this Sir Henry Rider Haggard fan club?. I seem to to recall that even at a time when it was very unfashionable to say anything good about Haggard, the late Sir John Mortimer - Rumpole's creator - used to admit that he was a big fan.

The "certain other forum" I referred to deals with (Gasp! Wince!) railway modelling. Now, whatever you may think of those who practise this hobby, I'm sure you'll have no trouble appreciating that they do have to be careful sometimes to keep their loving other halves sweet, seeing as how the phrase "hens' teeth" comes irresistibly to mind when describing females who appreciate, or indeed even understand, this pastime. Hence the frequent references to SWMBO.

I *am* the younger generation I guess... 15 years old and loving listening to (and, when I get the chance, singing) Pete's songs. My main trouble is that the chords are so unusual, for half his stuff I can't find a guitarist who knows any of 'em...

Welcome aboard. Have you tried to click on the 'PA Home' icon above right. This will take you to the Pete Atkin website where you will find a complete discography with chords for a lot of the songs. Dig in and enjoy.

Though he had no great gifts of personality or mind, he was quite well respected.

I'm fairly new to PA and CJ's albums. As a 37 year old I missed them first time round and am extremely happy that I've found them now. Dylan and Bowie have always been favourites, but something about Pete and Clive's work connects more with me. When I listen to Hypertension Kid, I think about the pub setting in the song, and feel nostalgic for a time that wasn't even my own.

The reason I'm posting here is to say that I've been playing the first two albums on and off in the car for a couple of years to my 3 year old son. Yes, there's an element of brainwashing but he loves it. He's now fairly obsessed with the music. We get in the car and if I put the radio on he say's "What about some Pete Atkin?" He talks about Pete Atkin to people, sweetly presuming that everyone knows the music. "Do you like Pete Atkin?" he'll say to his toddler friends. It started with Master of the Revels, and Honky Tonk Train (easy stuff) then he moved on to Frangipanni, Laughing Boy - then I left BOTBS running while I was getting petrol one day and when I came back he told me all about this girl on a train. Now it's a firm favourite. I've just been playing him Wristwatch for a Drummer and it's his new pick. He would go into nursery singing "Ford Cortina was the car, 11:35 the hour.." Could he be their youngest fan?

I'm happy for him to be absorbing this great material along with the Bowie and Dylan even if he won't know (m)any contemporaries who will know what he's talking about. I think I'll move onto The Smiths once he turns 5.